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I received a check and tried to cash it at the bank/credit union that holds the account on which the check is written. The bank/credit union charged me a fee for cashing a check. Can a bank/credit union do that?

Generally, a bank or credit union can charge you a fee for cashing a check when you don’t have an account with that bank or credit union.

However, some states have laws that require employers to pay you in a way that enables you to get your wages without a fee. In those states, you should be able to cash your paycheck at the bank or credit union the check is from without paying a fee. To learn more about the law in your state, contact your state banking department, state Attorney General’s office, or for issues related to your paycheck, your state’s Labor Department.